Miss. AG: Some Barbour pardons might be invalid

JACKSON — Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood says he believes former Gov. Haley Barbour might’ve violated the state Constitution by pardoning some inmates who failed to give sufficient public notice that they were seeking clemency.

The Constitution says any inmate seeking a pardon must publish notice about his intentions. Before the governor can grant a pardon, the notice must appear 30 days in a newspaper in or near the county where the person was convicted.

Hood, a Democrat, was going to state court late Wednesday to ask a state judge to halt the release of any inmates pardoned by Barbour if they are still awaiting the completion of paperwork to be released.

As one of his final acts in office, Republican Barbour on Tuesday gave clemency to more than 200 people.